1,000 armed Maoists attack CRPF camp

BHUBANESWAR: Armed Naxalites attacked a camp of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Sunday night at Cherpal village, about 12 km from Bijapur town in Dantewara district of Chhattisgarh.

Police sources said the Maoists, numbering about 1,000, cordoned off the CRPF camp at around 8.30 pm and opened fire, forcing the para-military forces to retaliate. Firing was still on in the area and preliminary reports indicated that the CRPF personnel were safe.

A company of CRPF personnel and about 50 special police officers (SPOs), the local tribal youth recruited to assist the police and para military forces were present in the Cherpal camp.

Even as the fierce gun-battle went on, bordering districts of Orissa were put on alert. Malkangiri police had started keeping a watch on the border areas suspecting any fallout of the Naxal attack.

Malkangiri SP Himanshu Lal told this website’s newspaper that his units were in touch with security forces of Chhattisgarh and maintaining constant surveillance.

EARLIER ATTACKS: It may be recalled that on July 17, about 25 persons were killed and over 150 injured when Naxalites attacked Errabore village in Dantewara. At least 20 persons were taken captive.

About 800 Naxalites attacked a CRPF post and a State Government-run relief camp at Errabore at 1 am. Armed Naxals stormed the Errabore relief camp, where around 5,000 tribals were being forcibly held by Salwa Judum goons in concentration camp like conditions .

Naxalites first attacked the CRPF camp, keeping the security forces engaged, and then raided the relief camp and then attacked the much loathed Special police officers SPO’s at Errabore relief camp.

In April this year, Maoists had killed 11 policemen, including an officer, in an attack on a police post in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh. About 70 Naxalites came to the Murkinar police outpost in a bus and started attacking the policemen.

Eleven died on the spot. The Naxalites looted most of the weapons, including one LMG and three AK-47s.